2025 Reading Challenge discussion

3rd Quarter Challenge: Authors!
Duration: July 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013

Most of our challenges are based on books, but we thought we could do with a change, so this challenge is entirely based on authors.

1. Read a book by an author who shares your initials (first and last only, no need to match middle initials).

2. Read a book by an author from your home country.

3. Read a book written by an author whose first language is different from your own.

4. Read a book by a new-to-you author.

5. Read a book by an author who's known for a genre you don't primarily read.

6. Read a book by an author born in your birth month.

7. Read a book by an author born in the same decade as you. (If you are born in or after 1990, you may read an author born in the 80s.)

8. Read a book by an author who has penned an autobiography (you can, but do not have to, read the autobiography itself).

9. Read a book by a self-published author (the book you read does not have to be self-published, but the author must have self-published at some point in his or her career).

10. Read a book by a Goodreads author.

11. Read a book by a debut author.

12. Read a book by an author who has published more than 15 books by July 1, 2013.

13. Read a book by an author who has fewer than 25 fans. (See the number of fans on an author's profile.)

14. Read a book by an author who has greater than 1,000 fans.

15. Read a book by your favorite author.

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Mim will be our leader for this challenge.

I will attempt an even dozen for this one.

I'm gonna go for 8 on this one, and I wouldn't mind leading. :)

Awesome--thank you, Mim!

I'm going to go for 10 of them I believe.

I am in for this one. I am going to try for 8.

1. Read a book by an author who shares your initials (first and last only, no need to match middle initials).

2. Read a book by an author from your home country. The Handmaid's Tale

3. Read a book written by an author whose first language is different from your own.

4. Read a book by a new-to-you author. The Catcher in the Rye

5. Read a book by an author who's known for a genre you don't primarily read. Unwind

6. Read a book by an author born in your birth month.

7. Read a book by an author born in the same decade as you. (If you are born in or after 1990, you may read an author born in the 80s.) Looking for Alaska

8. Read a book by an author who has penned an autobiography (you can, but do not have to, read the autobiography itself).

9. Read a book by a self-published author (the book you read does not have to be self-published, but the author must have self-published at some point in his or her career). Dollhouse

10. Read a book by a Goodreads author. The Deepest Cut

11. Read a book by a debut author. The Seeds of a Daisy

12. Read a book by an author who has published more than 15 books by July 1, 2013. Fahrenheit 451

13. Read a book by an author who has fewer than 25 fans. (See the number of fans on an author's profile.) The Last Strand

14. Read a book by an author who has greater than 1,000 fans. Along Came a Spider

15. Read a book by your favorite author.



10/8 I am going to keep going! Let's see if I can finish them all!

Great challenge - one I will employ with my face-to-face book club. For those who are looking to fulfill 9 and 10, may I recommend Jack Chaucer's Queen's Are Wild? http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15... TEchnically it also fulfills #11, and depending on your preferences, it may fulfill #5 (poli-sci-fi.) I'm intrigued to try the initial one, but not sure how I would narrow in on that. Suggestions?

Okay, here we go!

Participants:

Heather: 0/12
Mim: 8/8
Kelsi: 0/10
Jodi: 10/8
Megan: 15/15
Jessica: 0/8
Rosemarie: 2/7
Sarah: 13/10
Sibyl: 9/9
Brianna: 7/15
Cari: 1/5
Karina: 13/13
Mariko: 0/8
Erika: 8/8
★Ms.Jackie ★: 0/5
Kara: 0/5
Lesley: 9/9
Kai: 0/8
Lilac: 0/6
Gecko: 0/15
SilverRaindrops: 9/13
Adriana: 5/?
Natalie: 12/12
Lacee: 0/15
Jennifer: 3/6
Katrina: 6/6
Nancy: 4/7
Nathaly:2/3
Cathy: 1/15
ilovebakedgoods (Teresa): 8/5
Sharon: 10/12
Alison: 0/6
Lorelei: 0/3
Joanne♥~Bookworm Extraordinaire: 9/15
Sara: 2/2
Danielle: 6/6
Aislinn: 9/?
Diana S: 2/?
Lindy: 12/?

Cari, I wasn't sure if you were officially participating so I didn't put you on the list, but let me know if I should amend that. :) Sadly, I've got no ideas for #1, since I pretty much just lucked out in already having a book by an author that shares my initials on my TBR shelf!

I'll join in but only for 6 books for now. Might up the quota depending on how the books start falling in to the categories.

#1 - Author with same initials (M.E.) - Michael Ennis, Malice of Fortune - completed July 2013

#2 - Author from Home Country (USA) - JD Salinger, Catcher in the Rye - completed July 2013

#3 - Author with different language (Portuguese) - Paolo Coelho, Brida - completed August 2013

#4 - Author New to You - Susanna Kearsley, Mariana - completed July 2013

#5 - Unfamiliar Genre (fantasy) - Charlaine Harris, Dead Until Dark - completed July 2013

#6 - Same Birth month (December) - Elizabeth Kostova, this Historian - completed July 2013

#7 - Author born in same decade - Veronica Roth, Divergent - completed July 2013

#8 - Autobiography/Memoir - George Orwell, 1984 - completed August 2013

#9 - Self-published author - Catherine Bybee, Wife by Wednesday - completed July 2013

#10 - Goodreads Author - Gail Carriger, Heartless - completed August 2013

#11 - Debut Author - Christopher Beha, What Happened to Sophie Wilder - completed August 2013

#12 - More than 15 books by July 2013 - James Patterson, Private - completed July 2013

#13 - Fewer than 25 fans - Emily Sue Harvey, Song of Renewal - completed September 2013

#14 - More than 1,000 fans - Nora Roberts, Whiskey Beach - completed August 2013

#15 - Favorite Author - Mary Kay Andrews, Ladies' Night - completed July 2013

15/6 - CHALLENGE COMPLETED!

Count me in for 8.

I'll try for 6 since its my first time.

I think I'll try for 10.

I'm going to go for nine.

Cool challenge

Updated the list. :)

Yes, I'm in. I will go for five:
1, 5, 9, 10 and 11.
Do we chime in with the titles as they're picked?
Thanks,
Cari

I'll aim for 13!

Cari - it's up to you, really! You can post the books you've chosen before you've read them, but it's entirely optional - you can just post whenever you've completed a task; it's also up to you how often you "check in" - you can update with every book read or just chime in when you're done. Whatever you want to do, basically. :)

(And the list has been updated!)

I'm aiming to complete six of the options I have listed below.

1. Read a book by an author who shares your initials:
Cinder by Marissa Meyer

3. Read a book written by an author whose first language is different from your own:
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (first language was Yiddish).

4. Read a book by a new-to-you author:
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

6. Read a book by an author born in your birth month:
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa (we were actually born on the same day!)

7. Read a book by an author born in the same decade as you:
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion.

10. Read a book by a Goodreads author:
InterWorld by Neil Gaiman.

11. Read a book by a debut author:
Mystic City by Theo Lawrence.

14. Read a book by an author who has greater than 1,000 fans:
Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card.

15. Read a book by your favorite author:
C.S. Lewis or Jane Austen.

My goal will be 8 for this challenge! ~Erika

Hi all - with Kara's permission, I'd like to throw out my own novel as one option for this challenge. Sparrow Migrations may enable to you meet many of the sub-challenges--and I'm doing a giveaway through July 10.
Specifically, it would meet:
#2 - USA
#4 - a new-to-you author
#6 - born in July
#7 - born in the '60s
#9 - book by a self-published author
#10 - book by a Goodreads author
#11 - book by a debut author
#13 - book by an author with less than 25 fans

You can enter the giveaway and see the reviews to date by clicking the cover below. Thanks for considering.

Completed #4 - Author new to me - Susanna Kearsley wrote Mariana. 3.5 stars. Good fantasy with bits of history thrown in. My only issue was that I felt as if neither the modern or the historical bit was developed fully and the ending just came very suddenly. Worth reading and I look forward to reading another of this author's books.

1/6

I've updated everyone's goals. :)

Okay, I will try this challenge. I'm going for five.

Completed #7 - Author born in same decade as myself (1980's) - Veronica Roth wrote Divergent. Really well done and gripping book! The beginning was a bit slow, but I love the way the author developed the characters. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars

2/6

Mim, can you put me down for five? Thank you!

The list has been updated. :) And well done on already knocking out two books, Megan!

My numbers haven't been updated. I am 4/8. I have just been keeping track on my original post. If it would make it easier for you I will make a new post each time.

I'm in for 9.

#2 Read a book by an author from your home country: USA
Julie Ann WalkerRev It Up 7/3/13

#4 Read a book by a new-to-you author
Jill SmolinskiThe Next Thing on My List: A Novel 7/7/13

#7 Read a book by an author born in the same decade as you.
M.J. PullenRegrets Only 7/20/13 A post on her blog says she graduated in 1993, which puts her at 5 years younger than me, but still born in the 1970's. (I was born in 1970)

#9 Read a book by a self-published author
Michelle Lynn- Love Me Back 7/11/13

#10. Read a book by a Goodreads author
Anne ConleyHot Mess 7/10/13

#11 Read a book by a debut author Andra Brynn Where I End and You Begin 7/9/13

#12 Read a book by an author who has published more than 15 books by July 1, 2013 Philip R Craig Vineyard Shadows: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery 7/11/13


#13 Read a book by an author who has fewer than 25 fans.
N. TaylorThe Desire to Love 7/1/13 as of 7/7, Natalie has 4 fans on her profile page

#14 Read a book by an author who has greater than 1000 fans.
Rachel GibsonTrue Love and Other Disasters 7/5/13 as of 7/7, Rachel has 1927 fans on her profile page

I'm going for 8.

Mim wrote: "The list has been updated. :) And well done on already knocking out two books, Megan!"

Thanks!

Completed #12 - More than 15 books by 7/13 - James Patterson wrote Private. Has definitely written more than 15 books! 2.5 stars. Decent audiobook but characters were a bit shallow. Might listen to the next book on my next long drive but not rushing out to get it anytime soon. Worth listening to if need something a bit suspenseful and mindless.

3/6

No Jodi, that's fine - sorry for missing yours! It's been updated properly now.

Okay, everything should be up to date, but please tell me if I've missed anything!

I'll join. Put me down for 6 for now but I might up it later on.

Thanks so much Mim :) I just want to do whatever is easier for you.

I'm in for all 15.

Mim, I'm in for all 15 :).

9/15

2. Read a book by an author from your home country. (Germany)
Lilach Mer - Der siebte Schwan, 07/21, 4*
3. Read a book written by an author whose first language is different from your own. (German)
**** Muriel Barbery - Die Eleganz des Igels, 09/24
(Muriel Barbery is French.)
4. Read a book by a new-to-you author.
**** Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game, 09/11
5. Read a book by an author who's known for a genre you don't primarily read.
This is hard because I read basically everything. But Tracy Chevalier writes historical fiction, and I wouldn't cite the genre as my absolute favourite, so I went with that.
**** Tracy Chevalier - Burning Bright, 09/22
10. Read a book by a Goodreads author.
Kristin Hannah - Summer Island, 07/22, 4*
12. Read a book by an author who has published more than 15 books by July 1, 2013. ***** Kristin Hannah - Winter Garden, 07/08
13. Read a book by an author who has fewer than 25 fans.
Robert Fabbri - Tribune of Rome, 07/11, 4*
14. Read a book by an author who has more than 1,000 fans.
Ian McEwan - Atonement, 07/31, 5*
15. Read a book by your favorite author.
Christoph Marzi - Die wundersame Geschichte der Faye Archer, 09/03, 5*, ♥

I was debating but I think I want to try this. I'll go for 13 12.

3rd Quarter Challenge: Authors!
Duration: July 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013

Completed 12 out of 12

1. Read a book by an author who shares your initials (first and last only, no need to match middle initials).

2. Read a book by an author from your home country.
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan Read 8/11

3. Read a book written by an author whose first language is different from your own.
Red River, Vol. 1 by Chie Shinohara Read 07/28

4. Read a book by a new-to-you author.
I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga Read 07/04

5. Read a book by an author who's known for a genre you don't primarily read.

6. Read a book by an author born in your birth month.
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally Read 07/04

7. Read a book by an author born in the same decade as you. (If you are born in or after 1990, you may read an author born in the 80s.)
Thyla by Kate Gordon Read 8/13

8. Read a book by an author who has penned an autobiography (you can, but do not have to, read the autobiography itself).
Bossypants by Tina Fey Read 9/14

9. Read a book by a self-published author (the book you read does not have to be self-published, but the author must have self-published at some point in his or her career).
Between the Lines by Tammara Webber Read 9/14

10. Read a book by a Goodreads author.
A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger Read 07/06

11. Read a book by a debut author.
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt Read 9/8

12. Read a book by an author who has published more than 15 books by July 1, 2013.
Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead Read 07/19

13. Read a book by an author who has fewer than 25 fans. (See the number of fans on an author's profile.)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Alan Brinkley Read 9/13

14. Read a book by an author who has greater than 1,000 fans.
Faefever by Karen Marie Moning Read 07/17

15. Read a book by your favorite author.

I already have 5. I will see how much more I can get.

2. Read a book by an author from your home country. Kate DiCamillo

4. Read a book by a new-to-you author. Anna Jarzab

12. Read a book by an author who has published more than 15 books by July 1, 2013. Sharon Creech

14. Read a book by an author who has greater than 1,000 fans. Jerry Spinelli

10. Read a book by a Goodreads author.
Eliot Schrefer

Any suggestions for authors with initials of J W? I have been looking but haven't had much luck.

Jodi wrote: "Any suggestions for authors with initials of J W? I have been looking but haven't had much luck."

Jodi, I thought of Jo Walton. But you can look through the FantasticFiction database and search for someone who starts with J. I used it to find someone as well.

Jodi wrote: "Any suggestions for authors with initials of J W? I have been looking but haven't had much luck."

Jeanette Winterson comes to mind - not sure if she's the type of thing you like to read (she does have a very specific style), but she has quite a few books to choose from, and I know at least a couple are pretty short.

Thank you both Mim and SilverRaindrops for the suggestions. I am going to check out both your suggestions. I tried to do a google search but I am not very good at google.

I will try to do all 15!

I've got a couple of books by Jasinda Wilder on my wishlist. I've never read her though so I can't give you a true recommendation about any of her books.

Thanks Lesley. I noticed that I have Falling into you on my TBR list too. I am going to look at some reviews on it.

Count me in for 6!

2. Read a book by an author from your home country. The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court 7/9/13

3. Read a book written by an author whose first language is different from your own. Antigone / Oedipus the King / Electra

4. Read a book by a new-to-you author. The Namesake

6. Read a book by an author born in your birth month. The Glass Menagerie

12. Read a book by an author who has published more than 15 books by July 1, 2013. James Patterson

15. Read a book by your favorite author. Inferno

One down, five to go...

Completed #2 - book by author from home country (USA) - JD Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye. The best thing I can say about this book is that it was a quick read. I do not believe I was the intended audience, as I have very little patience for petulant, privileged, angst-ridden teenagers. Not my favorite read and wouldn't recommend to anyone over the age of 15. 1 star

4/6